By Brianna Pitts
InkFreeNews

CLAYPOOL — Janet and Marge Warren have been selected as the parade marshals for Claypool’s sesquicentennial.

Janet and Marge are sister-in-laws who were married to brothers that owned a dry-walling business together in Claypool, and is now in its fourth generation of family owners. Currently, it is one of two remaining businesses which existed at the centennial celebration 50 years ago.

Janet Warren moved to Claypool at the age of 8 and has lived on the same street, Section Street, for 83 years.

Claypool has been a part of every aspect of her life. At the age of 14, Janet began working at the Claypool drugstore as a soda jerk. When she went to open her first bank account, it was at the People’s Bank of Claypool. She went on to work at the Claypool United States Post Office, retiring after 25 years. She and her late husband, Layne, raised their three children in Claypool.

Janet Warren has also been an integral part of her church in Claypool, attending multiple Lions eye mission trips to foreign countries. She also has volunteered countless hours at the food pantry as well as the Red Cross.

She is known by her community as the noodle lady because she delivers cookies and all kinds of baked goods to new neighbors and sick neighbors alike.

Marge Warren has been a Claypool citizen since 1950. Claypool is where she and her late husband, Bob, raised their four children.

Marge Warren tutored many grade school children at Claypool Elementary School over the years. After raising her family, She worked at the Kosciusko County Assessors’ Office for over 20 years before retiring. She is known in the community for being able to make people laugh.

The ladies are always involved in their community and very passionate about Claypool. They both served diligently on the committee for the 1973 Claypool centennial.

Other notable involvements these women are attributed to include:

• Being members of the Happy Homemakers club.
• Starting the Claypool Fire Department women’s auxiliary.
• Establishing the first kindergarten class in Claypool, located where the Full Gospel Tabernacle Church now stands.
• Organizing the first town cleanup.
• Orchestrating the first veterinarian clinic to open in Claypool with the help of Dr. Sasso.

Both are incredibly influential women who are constantly pouring into their community, creating a lasting impact on the town of Claypool.

The ladies both still reside in Claypool at the ages of 91 and 92.